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254 while the slave inclined the hammock toward her for a few minutes. Then there was silence again. The room was very close and warm, and the faces of some of the sleepers were flushed. At last I slept also.

When I awoke in the morning I found that all the beds had been cleared away. Helweh and Sit Sâra stood by mine, as if they had been watching for me to wake. A number of boys almost blocked up the doorway, where the sunlight was streaming in. Servants and slaves were chattering, and piling up the mattresses in the recess. Little children were quarreling. The boys alone were silent. A black girl was sitting on the floor, pounding some freshly roasted coffee-berries in a marble mortar. Their fragrant aroma filled the room. I think that the mortar was made out of an ancient capital. It was beautifully carved, like Roman work. Another girl was making a kind of porridge of bread, milk, sugar, and oil, for the children.

When Helweh perceived that I was awake she called out to the boys to clear the doorway; and a group of women, shrouded in white sheets, who had been waiting in the court outside, entered. They were neighbors, who had been paying visits of congratulation to the young mother whom I had seen on the previous night. They had been invited to come in "to hear the English girl speak to God."

My garments were examined with curiosity, and I had very much more assistance than I required in making my toilette. When I was dressed Helweh said, "Now, Miriam, darling, will you speak to God, that the women, our neighbors, may hear?"

So I kneeled down, saying, "God, the one true God, is the Creator and Father of all; and those who seek him truly shall surely find him." Then, in a few simple words, I prayed that he would keep us in continual remembrance of him. That we might feel his presence; and that he would write his law in our hearts, and lead us to seek earnestly to understand and to obey his will concerning us. That we might be inspired to love him more and more,